Let’s make a move and make a stirFor the path seeking profound experiences avails itselfLet’s indeed make our moveUntil we are worthy of wearing the lei of scarlet lehua

The lei of Hilo is that of rain drenched in volcanic promiseA life, a life this is, a life breathing right through to the core!

Composed by Dr. Taupōuri Tangarō, September 2006

This mele places the learner within the cardinal center of potential using Hawaiʻi Island’s sacred geography as a metaphor. In the Hawaiian language, the right hand is called ʻākau, which also means north; the left hand is termed hema, which is the south. Stepping into this orientation then positions the rising sun at the back of the person and the setting sun at the front, or face of the person. Maunakea is the head, and as Maunakea is sacred so is the head of the native person. Maunaloa is the womb from which all magma rises from the core of the earth; hence Maunaloa is the primal base, as Maunakea is the celestial reach. Hualalai muli kuahiwi (Hualalai is the youngest of mountains) speaks to profound germination. Lei o Hilo ka ua pē i ka uahi (Hilo’s lei is that of rain scented with smoke) speaks to the crux of our life founded on water and fire!